The Elders Omeo Hereford sale, on Wednesday afternoon, may not have presented the heaviest steers, but with a yarding of 1195 steers, a much larger selection of quality bred steers were on offer.
Competition between Princes Royal Station, for feeder steers, and one or more South Gippsland bullock fatteners, created a very good sale.
PC&CG Faithfull was awarded the best presented pen, judged by Bruce Elliott, Elders Yea, and while these sold for $1290 per head, it was another pen of Faithfull steers that topped the weaned calves making $1310.
It took a long time before prices dropped below $1000, and then they rose again, as competition changed gears.
The 1195 steers averaged $984, with a large supply of young calves bringing the average back.
Aside from two major players buying the lion’s share of the first two lanes, as weights reduced, the live export order kicked in.
Throughout the whole sale there was at least four successful northern buyers, some purchasing in the hundreds.
Destinations included Dalby and Killara Feedlot, in Queensland, Bathurst, Gunnedah, and Coonamble, and buyers from the Riverina were also successful.
Producers were happy to see this northern competition as there were fewer Gippsland buyers attending.
This sale was arguably the best with so many steers selling between $1050-$11190.
AJ&BJ AH Sam sold 127 EU Accredited steers from $860-$1190.
A lot of producers are EU accredited, and some stayed in the system, but most were taken out. Princes Royal Station specifically targeted EU accreditation.
Because of the harsh winter, many of the calves had a growth check, and these, plus young steers, sold very well.
JE Flanagan sold 61 steer calves from $850-$1030, and CW Scott & Co, sold 89 steers between $870-$1020.
Calves that had a very rough time sold from $680-$750.
Breeders looking for noted lines of heifers paid to $1080, but the traditional Hereford-Shorthorn heifers were not on the hit list this year. PC&CG Faithfull were successful here.
S&SN Lawor, Upper Livingstone, sold their baby heifers from $620-$740, with their top making the higher price of $1000.
Competition from the South Australian feedlot operator, who was buying backgrounding heifers, did put a floor in the market. They purchased a large volume of heifers from $700-$770.
One of the local favourites are JW&GJ Crisp, and their 110 heifers sold from $750-$950.
The largest vendor was A&B Ah Sam, who sold 158 calves from $590-$890.
A small number of yearling Hereford heifers, 18 months, made only $770-$870.
Overall, the sale was an excellent result, especially with most of Victoria being very dry.